Demon of the Serpent (2)

While Laxus was still playing electric rat, Allen's gaze locked tightly onto the faint serpent phantom hovering above Malcolm's head. Then, with a look of utter astonishment, he turned his eyes to Malcolm and asked, "You actually know the Eighteen Demon God Magic? I was under the impression that not many people could wield a spell of this caliber. Given your background and status, you shouldn't have had access to it. Can you tell me who taught you?"

However, upon hearing Allen's words, Malcolm only grew more furious.

Malcolm trembled with rage, his voice tearing through the air as he roared, "That's right! Exactly! If it were still the old days, someone as mediocre as me would never have been able to touch such a super-magic, no matter how much blood and sweat I poured into it! But I'm not what I used to be! I've been reborn, and I'll kill every last one of you so-called geniuses one by one!!!"

Having said that, Malcolm fixed a sinister glare on Allen and continued in a slow, deliberate tone, "Of course, if you join us now, you won't just learn the Eighteen Demon God Magic—you'll also have the chance to access even greater power. What do you say? It's not too late to lay down your arms and surrender to me."

Allen let out a disdainful snort. "Join you? And become some twisted, inhuman thing like you? Words are useless. Once I defeat you, I'll pry the name of whoever taught you this super-magic out of your mouth."

The moment Allen finished speaking, his figure flickered like lightning, appearing before Malcolm in the blink of an eye. Gram thrust forward with overwhelming momentum, stabbing straight at Malcolm.

"Holy Spear Slash!"

Gram blazed with dazzling light, piercing toward Malcolm with lightning speed.

Yet, unexpectedly, though Allen hadn't struck with full force, Malcolm instinctively raised both hands and actually managed to block Gram head-on. The point of impact even sparked a series of brilliant flashes, and he was only knocked back a short distance, completely unharmed.

It was at that moment that Allen noticed with surprise that Malcolm's body was beginning to undergo subtle changes. His normal skin gradually revealed faint black patterns, while patches of scales resembling a serpent's emerged across his surface. These scales glowed with an eerie light, growing clearer and more distinct with each passing second.

Judging solely by the force of the collision between Gram and Malcolm's hands, the defensive power of these scales was astonishing—enough to rival even Theodore's physique.

Though Malcolm had initially been startled by Allen's sudden burst of speed, seeing his attack successfully blocked made him instantly arrogant.

He threw his head back and laughed uproariously, shouting, "See that? This is the mighty power bestowed upon me by the great Asmodeus! Since you've chosen to oppose us, today is your death day!"

"Touch of Destruction!"

Before the words faded, Allen noticed the massive serpent phantom coiled behind Malcolm. Its blood-red eyes suddenly flared with a chilling, soul-piercing light. Then, several thick, black tentacles brimming with destructive energy shot out from Malcolm's body, writhing like venomous snakes as they hurtled toward Allen.

Allen leaped back swiftly, swinging Gram to shatter the tentacles that reached him one by one.

Just as he successfully forced Allen into retreat, a glint of cunning and satisfaction flashed in Malcolm's eyes. He decided to press the advantage, giving Allen no chance to catch his breath.

He began moving his hands in an eerily twisted, serpentine dance, while a torrent of magic power surged from within him like a tidal wave, flooding the surrounding space.

With a low, furious roar—"Shadow Bind Strangulation!"—Malcolm's previously still shadow suddenly writhed as if alive. A massive python formed from pure magic burst forth from the shadow, charging at Allen with ferocious momentum.

The magic python was enormous and incredibly fast, closing in on Allen in an instant, attempting to coil its thick, powerful body around him and crush him.

Faced with such a sudden and vicious attack, Allen didn't panic. He stomped hard on the ground, halting his backward momentum, while his right hand began swinging Gram at a furious pace, stirring up a fierce gale.

"Holy Spear Slash!"

A thunderous bang echoed as Gram collided violently with the charging shadow python. Sparks flew, and magic energy scattered everywhere.

The serpent blocked Gram's first strike, but a relentless series of blows followed, landing on its head. On the second hit, Gram pierced into the serpent's skull, and Allen drove the blade through its entire body from head to tail.

"What?!"

Malcolm couldn't believe it. The technique he had poured so much magic into was so easily shattered.

After piercing through the serpent, Allen shot forward like an arrow from a bow. At the same time, Gram's shaft blazed with blinding radiance, shining like a sun in the dark battlefield. A beam of light, incredibly fast and devastatingly powerful, erupted from the spear tip, streaking through the air like lightning straight toward Malcolm.

"Royal Spear Strike!"

By now, Malcolm's confidence had swelled to its peak, bolstered by the formidable defense of his serpent scales. Even as the Royal Spear Strike—capable of piercing anything—closed in on him, he showed no intention of dodging. Instead, he casually crossed his arms in front of his chest, relying on his impenetrable scale armor to block Allen's powerful assault once more.

But what Malcolm never expected was that Allen had already gauged the defensive limits of those scales during their earlier exchanges. This time, he had pushed the Royal Spear Strike to its maximum power.

Boom!!!

A violent explosion erupted at Malcolm's location. The shockwave sent the fallen members of the Foxes of the Forest flying several meters away, followed by a thick cloud of smoke.

When the smoke cleared, Malcolm was on one knee, gasping for breath, with blood pouring from several wounds on his body. Yet his eyes burned with even greater madness. "I didn't expect you to break through my defense."

Allen pointed Gram at Malcolm. "If you give up resistance now and tell me who's behind you, you won't die."

Malcolm let out a cold laugh instead of answering. He pulled a dark purple crystal from his pocket and crushed it with force.

In an instant, the magic power of the townspeople and the Foxes of the Forest members all converged toward him. The serpent phantom above his head also descended from the sky, flying into Malcolm. His body then rapidly swelled and twisted, until before everyone's eyes stood a fully materialized giant serpent.